PALMDALE – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will conduct a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location in Palmdale this Friday, June 24, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 2 a.m., authorities announced.
The checkpoint’s location will be chosen based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of a DUI checkpoint is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road.
“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Sgt. Robert Hill said. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.
Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.
Funding for this DUI checkpoint is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Guro David says
Thats its main function!
DUI Checkpoint says
“The primary purpose of a DUI checkpoint is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road.”
It is also a revenue generator.
Stinger says
“It is also a revenue generator.”
Is it? I’ll admit that I haven’t done a full analysis of the CBA on these, but an initial glance shows a lot of capital outlay for relatively few citations/fines for income. Jes’ sayin’.
Tim Scott says
More of a “revenue shifter.” The checkpoints run on earmarked funds from the DoT that are very restricted in how they can be used, making them pretty much unavailable for the usual corrupt misuse by local government. But, with a little creativity in the placement of the checkpoint you can minimize how much time is wasted on DUIs and maximize the returns in the form of random tax collection from the poor…which goes into the general fund and is a lot easier to steal.
Generating Revenue says
I am far from being an expert.
Fines, penalties, lawyers, court costs, impound fees, towing companies, insurance companies (rate increases), and the DMV…